Item: Faceting Above Crusts and Associated Slab Avalanching in the Columbia Mountains
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Title: Faceting Above Crusts and Associated Slab Avalanching in the Columbia Mountains
Proceedings: Proceedings of the 2004 International Snow Science Workshop, Jackson Hole, Wyoming
Authors:
- Bruce Jamieson [ Dept. of Civil Engineering ] [ Dept. of Geology and Geophysics, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta ]
- Paul Langevin [ Dept. of Civil Engineering ]
Date: 2004
Abstract: Numerous slab avalanches including unexpected human triggered avalanches are reported on crusts. For 70 dry slab avalanches that slid on a crust in the Columbia Mountains of western Canada, detailed profiles showed faceted crystals (60%) or surface hoar (33%) on the crust. Many of the facet layers were thin (<5-10 mm thick) and difficult to observe in manual snow profiles without snowpack tests. Two field studies with closely spaced thermistors showed faceting at the base of the overlying dry snow within a day. One time series of shear frame tests of facets-on-crust showed an initial strength loss during faceting followed by a slow strength increase. Observations of the spatial distribution of near crust faceting are summarized.
Language of Article: English
Presenters: Unknown
Keywords: avalanche forecasting, snowpack stratigraphy, crusts, melt-freeze layers, faceted crystals
Page Number(s): 112-120
Subjects: avalanche forecasting snow stratigraphy faceted crystals
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Digital Abstract Not Available
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